18Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Councillors disappointed as local Conservative leader calls 20mph restrictions “Cr*p”

Councillors disappointed as local Conservative leader calls 20mph restrictions “Cr*p”

Borough news, road safety
Saddleworth Liberal Democrat councillors Garth Harkness and Sam Al-Hamdani have expressed disappointment at local Conservative Leader Councillor John Hudson who said that councillors supporting a motion for 20MPH speed limits across the borough on residential roads were “talking cr*p”. Liberal Democrats proposed a motion on 4th November 2020 to seek in principle to implement a borough-wide 20 mph speed limit on residential roads. The motion was carried, however no Conservative councillors supported the motion and Councillor John Hudson was clear he did not support speed restrictions. Councillor Garth Harkness said: “The village road network in Saddleworth does not lend itself to 30MPH limits and a 20mph initiative needs to be considered. I have been campaigning for a long time with regards to 20MPH speed limits. A recent limit has been…
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27Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
20’s Plenty for Us in 2020

20’s Plenty for Us in 2020

Borough news, road safety
Liberal Democrat Councillors are proposing a motion at the next full meeting of Oldham Council (November 4th) calling for a default 20mph speed limit to be introduced on the Borough’s minor residential roads. Twenty million British citizens already live in local authorities where a 20mph default speed limit exists. The Liberal Democrats want Oldham Council to do the same. This is the second time they have introduced such a proposal at the Council; the first was in February 2014. The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, is proposing the motion. Commenting he said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has made crystal clear just how precious life is. Whilst we as a local authority work with our partners in the National Health Service to bring this terrible disease…
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03Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Liberal Democrats say road policing ‘not optional’

Liberal Democrats say road policing ‘not optional’

Borough news, Campaigns, road safety
Traffic cops often feature in our television shows, but the harsh reality is that the traffic officers forming the thin blue line are too few and grossly underfunded, and the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council wants to do something about that. Liberal Democrat Councillors are taking a motion to the next meeting of Oldham Council (9 September) calling for a restoration of funding for traffic policing to help prevent road deaths and for traffic policing to be made a priority in Greater Manchester. Figures published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy show a 34% cut in funding in real terms for road policing between 2012/3 and 2019/20 meaning less officers available to keep our streets safe. The Deputy Group Leader, Councillor Chris Gloster is proposing the…
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31Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
20mph speed limit OK for one but not the other

20mph speed limit OK for one but not the other

Borough news, Campaigns, road safety
Councillor Garth Harkness has welcomed an 18 month order to limit speeds of cars in Uppermill, to facilitate social distancing, but is also perplexed by the decision. He said: “I have been campaigning for a long time with regards to 20mph speed limits, backing the “20's plenty” campaign. The Council failed to support my motion for 20mph limits on residential roads across the borough. “After the HGV incidents in Dobcross residents and I have been pushing for Dobcross to become a 20mph zone. “Despite this happening in other parts of the country there has always been an excuse not to do it. But now, it seems that we can introduce the measures for social distancing but not for road safety? “I call on the council to again introduce 20mph speed…
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